James Weldon Johnson was born on June 17, 1871, in Jacksonville, Florida, to James Johnson and Helen Louise Dillet. He attended Atlanta University, earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1894. After graduation, he returned to Jacksonville to serve as principal of Stanton College Preparatory School. In 1900, Johnson wrote the lyrics for ""Lift Every Voice and Sing,"" with music composed by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson; this song became known as the Black National Anthem. He also authored The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man in 1912 and God's Trombones in 1927. His literary contributions significantly influenced the Harlem Renaissance. Johnson joined the NAACP in 1917 and became its executive secretary in 1920, serving until 1930. He was a prominent civil rights activist, advocating for anti-lynching legislation and equal rights. In 1934, he became the first African American professor at New York University.
